Patent GB-191515100-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Calculating and Printing Machines.
Inventor: AUGUST ESSMANN
Filed: 1915-10-26
Abstract: 15,100. Essmann, A. Oct. 28, 1914, [Convention date]. Void [Published under Sect. 91 of the Act]. Adding and subtracting apparatus; multiplying-apparatus; checking receipts.- An apparatus for calculating and printing bills and a record - strip, according to the indications of a totalizing- meter, co-operates with detachable totalizers by means of which the last-taken reading of the meter is thrown into the machine and is subtracted from the current reading, which has been previously set and recorded. The resulting difference, representing consumption, is then printed, and the tariff is set up and printed and is multiplied by the consumption, the resulting charge being then printed ; standing charges are then set up and printed and added to the consumption charge, the total being subsequently printed and a bill issued for the consumer. The machine is operated by means of the printing-lever G<2>, Fig. 4, which carries two printing-platens co-operating respectively, with item and result type-wheels A<2>, B', and giving at each operation a part-rotation to a cam shaft E<2>, from which the sequence of the various operations of the machine is controlled. The wheels B' carry two type sets, one for printing a voucher on a. reciprocating carriage H, and one for a record strip printed by a platen G<21>. The item-wheels A<2> are actuated from handles C', provided with indicating-means, through racks D', which are arranged between pairs of racks engaging the wheels B<1> and may be selectively connected to the racks D' to be driven in the same or opposite directions for addition or subtraction. The item-wheels A<2> are reset by driving their racks to zero position after every record of their setting has been made; and at the end of the operation, the racks for the result-wheels B<1> are moved to the left to leave them in their " nines " positions, prior to the attachment of the detachable totalizer. This detachable totalizer is carried in a frame 3, Fig. 22, having slits for engagement with pins 13, 14, and has pinions C engaging racks 8, which are provided with rocking arms 18 and claws 19 to engage the setting-racks D'. A platen 24 carried by the frame is engaged by an arm 28 on the operating- lever G<2> to print the customer's name &c. on the bill. The multiplication mechanism is not described in detail, but is of the type having representations of the partial products arranged in groups of dislis. A sequence indicator is moved at each depression of the operating-lever, to disclose the next operation to be performed. Interlocking.-The wheels of the detachable totalizer are locked until their setting has been thrown into the machine and recorded, and the item-printing wheels are looked against actuation while a detachable totalizer is attached to the machine; a lock also is provided for preventing the printing of the charge before the multiplying operation has been completed. Transfer mechanism.-Each of the set of racks for actuating the wheels B' is formed of two portions relatively movable. Pins K<4> on the wheels B' rock, at transfer, disks K<2> provided with arms K<5>, K<6> connected to links K<12>, K<7> jointed to similar arms on disks K<9>; the links K<13> pass through rockers K<15> pivoted to the racks, and inclined faces of these rockers engage pins K<18>, K<19>, which transfer one way or the other as the rockers are tilted. Each wheel B' is reset after transferring once, and the parts are returned to normal position on the resetting operation.